Journal box



Jan. 17, 1939- G. MccoRMlcK 2,143,954

JOURNAL BOX' vFiled Aprii 5, 1937 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYJ,

JOURNAL Box y 5 Sheets-sheet 2 G. MCCORMICK Filed April 5, 1937 Jan. 17, 1939.

INVENTOR. L? ZAEMM@ BY ATroRNEYs.

Jan. 17, 1939. G MCCORMICK Y 2,143,954

JOURNAL BOX Filed April 5, 1937 5 Sheets-She'et 5 INI/EN TOR.

M MM

S'NLPV /HT ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to bearings for rotating shafts, and is especially adapted for the axle journals of railway cars and locomotives.

The principal object of the invention is'to provide a journal box having a lubricator therein which is easily accessible for inspection and supply of additional lubricant, and which can be quickly removed, as a unit, for repair or replacement. Other objects of the invention are to provide means for preventing the escape of lubricant and the entrance of dust and dirt; to providev means for supplying the lubricant directly to the journal surface; and to provide means for retaining the lubricator unit in position in the box without impeding its ready removal therefrom.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, which should be read with the understanding that the form, construction and arrangementof the several parts described and shown in vthe accompanying drawings can be varied, within the limits of the claims hereto appended, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred form of the invention is fully described herein With reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved journal box.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a plan and rear end elevation of the oil container or cellar.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation, and front end elevation of the oil cellar.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and front In the drawings, the reference numeral I2 des# ignates a journal box surrounding the journal I3 of an axle. The bearing I4 and the wedge I5 are of standard construction and need not be further described. The rear end of the box is provided with an aperture I6 of larger diameter than the axle shaft, and an oil retainer I1 of any suitable form is provided to prevent loss of oil through said opening and the entrance of dust and dirt.

The front of the box is provided with an opening substantially equal in area to the interior of the box, which opening is closed by a hinged or otherwise removable cover plate I8. The lower portion of the box is rectangular in cross section y tom of the cellar 20.

and has a flat bottom Il on which the lubricator unit rests.

The lubricator unit comprises a rectangular metal oil container or cellar 20 having a at bot- ,tom and upstanding sides and ends, the sides extending upwardly to approximately the middle of the axle and being flared outwardly at their upper edges to have free contact with the side Walls of the box. In order to assist in preventing accidental displacement oi the oil cellar 2li, the side walls of the box may be provided with downwardly sloping ribs 2i, Fig. 2, immediately above the upper edgesof the sides of said cellar. The ribs 2 I also deflect into the cellar any oil that may be thrown out by the rotating axle, and prevent it from running down the sides of the box outside the cellar. The rear end of the oil cellar -20 is cut out in semicircular form, as shown at 22 in Fig. 4, and is provided with a channel 23 in which is retained a semicircular felt oil retainer 24 bearing against the lower portion of the axle shaft to assist the retainer Il, Fig. 1, in preventing loss of oil and the entrance of dust and dirt. The channel 23 is formed by a flange 25 projecting from the rear end of the cellar and lying within the lopening IS of the box.

The front wall 2G of the cellar is carried up above the bottom of the axle, and is provided with an exterior oil inspection cup 21, which communicates with the interior of the cellar through an aperture 2| in the iront wall. A splash plate 29 is provided inside the front wall 26 behind the aperture 28.

The body of the lubricator is a perforated metal plate 30 having a curvature approximately coaxial with the axle I3 and extending almost the full length of the journal. 'I'he plate 30 is spaced be-' low the axle and carries a. pad 3l of absorbent material. Wicks 32 having their upper ends embedded in thexpad 3l extend down through holes in the plate V30 and conduct the oil from the cellar to said pad. The pad 3| is pressed upwardly against the journal surface by resilient supporting means interposed between the plate 3D and the bottom of the cellar 20. I prefer to make these supports as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 as a pair of loops or hails 33 having their upper cross members rotatably mounted in tubes 3l secured to the bottom of the plate 30 near its center. The hails 33 are inclined outwardly and downwardly, and their lower cross members are provided with tubular rollers 35 which rest and roll upon the iiat bot- Springs 36 draw the lower ends of the bails 33 together, thereby elevating the plate 30 and pressing the pad against the journal surface. Transverse rods 31 are secured to the bottom ol' the hinged tubes 34 and engage the legs of the balls to limit their movement toward each other. The iront end of the plate 30 is provided with an upstanding flange 38 to retain the end of the pad 3l and prevent wear of the pad by the collar i3d of the journal I3. An arm 39 extends forwardly from the plate and is used as a handle for adjusting the lubricator and for manipulating it in removing and replacing it as described hereinafter.

A locking or retaining plate 40 is interposed between the bottom `of the oil cellar 20 and the bottom of the box, and may either be attached to said cellar, or preferably as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, separate from it. When said locking plate is separate, the bottom of the cellar is preferably provided with a pair of spaced wear plates 4l, Figs. 5 and 6. 'I'he looking plate 40 has a downwardly projecting transverse ange 42 which engages a groove 43 cut in the bottom of the box. I prefer to form the front end of the plate 4B with a notch 44, the base o! said notch being turned downwardly to form the ange 42. The remaining side portions of the plate are extended forwardly in front of the boxand are each provided with an upturned ,terminal iiange 45. The cover i8 of the box is provided with an interior lug 4t which rests immediately above the flanges 45 when the cover is closed to prevent accidental lifting of the plate All. The forward end portion of said plate is provided with upstanding lugs 4l positioned immediately in front of the front wall 26 of the oil cellar at either side of the inspection cup. If the cover i8 is provided with means of its own for locking it in closed position, the ange 42 and groove 43 may be omitted, the cover i8 being relied upon to hold the plate and cellar 2li in position.

It will now be seen, especially by reference to Fig. l, that in order to remove the lubricator unit from the box, it is necessary rst to open the cover I8, then to lift the front end of the locking Vplate 40 to free its ange 42 from the groove 43,

whereupon said locking plate and oil cellar 2li can be drawn out through the open front end oi' the box. It is also necessary to lower the lubri-i cator body 3B and pad 3l by pressing down on the forward extension 39 to enable said pad to clear the flange i3d on the forward end of the journal. When the cover-i8 is closed the forward portion of the locking plate 40 cannot be raised because of the lugs 46 of said cover. The lubrlcator is therefore securely locked in position as a unit. It can, however, be easily withdrawn from the box for repair or replacement after the cover i8 is opened.

The oil is contained within the cellar 20, whose side and front walls are carried up high enough to prevent loss of oil by splashing. Loss of oil rearwardly along the axle is prevented by the felt retainer 2li. The cellar t can be easily lled through the space between its front Wall 26 and the end of the axle, and the level of the oil within it can be seen in the inspection cup 2l. The oil in the cellar is conveyed directly to the journal surface by the wicks 32 and the pad 3l I claim:

1. In a railway axle journal, an oil container having a flat bottom positioned beneath the axle, a lubricator within said container comprising a rigid perforate plate spaced below the journal surface, an absorbent pad carried by said plate, wicks extending downwardly from said pad into the oil within said container,7 a pair ol balls pivoted to said plate and inclined downwardly there- -from, said balls havingstraight horizontal lower members, tubular rollers surrounding said lower members and positioned to roll upon the at bottom of said container, and a springresiliently connecting said balls together ln such a manner as to cause them to press said plate upwardly to maintain contact between said pad and the journal surface.

2. In a railway axle journal, an oil container having a flat bottom positioned beneath the axle, a lubricator within said container comprising a rigid perforate plate spaced below the journal surface, an absorbent pad carried by said plate, wicks extending downwardly from said pad into the oil Within said container, a pair of balls having horizontal upper and lower members and outwardly and downwardly inclined side members, a pair of horizontal tubes secured to the under surface of said plate near its center, the upper members of said balls being pivotally mounted in said tubes, a bar secured to each of said tubes, the ends of said bars extending outwardly and forming stops engaging the side members of said balls to limit their approaching movement, rollers carrled by the lower members of said balls in contact with the bottom of the container, and a spring interconnecting said balls, said spring moving said balls toward each other to elevate said plate and maintain contact between said pad andthe journal surface.

3. In a railway axle journal, a box, a locking member slidably resting upon the bottom oi said box, a removable oil container resting upon said member, means on said member for engaging the box and said container to prevent accidental removal of the latter, a lubricator positioned within said container and removable therewith, comprising a rigid perforate plate spaced below the journal surface, an absorbent pad carried by said plate, wicks extending downwardly from said pad into the oil within said container, a pair of balls pivoted to said plate and inclined down- Wardly therefrom, rollers carried by the lower portions of said balls to travel upon the bottom of the container, and spring means acting upon said balls in such a manner as to cause them to force said plate upwardly to maintain contact between said pad and the journal surface.

d. In a railway axle journal, a box having an open end, a removable cover for said end, an

oil container positioned beneath the axle andl removable through the open end of the box, a locking member engaging said container and a portion of the box, said member being movable to release said engagement, means carried by said cover for preventing the releasing movement oi? said locking membenwhen the cover is closed, a lubricator positioned within said container and removable therewith, comprising a rigid perforate plate spaced below the journal surface, an absorbent pad carried by said plate, wicks extending downwardly frorn said pad into the oil within said container, a pair of balls pivoted to said Aplate and inclined downwardly therefrom, rollers carried by the lower portions of said balls to travel upon the bottom of the container, and spring means acting upon said balls in such a manner as to cause them to force said plate upwardly to maintain contact between said pad and the journal surface.

El. In a railway axle journal, a bof: having an open end and a recess in its bottom, a hinged cover for said open end, said cover having a projection from its inner.. surface, an oil container positioned beneath the axle within said box and removable through said open end, said container having a bottom and upstanding sides to retain a body1 of liquid therein, means in said container for conveying oil to the journal surface, a locking plate positioned between the bottom of said container and the bottom of the box and contiguous to both, an upwardly extending projection on said plate engaging said container, a downwardly extending projection on said plate engaging the recess in the bottom of the box, said projections preventing endwise removal of said container and said plate without initial elevation of said plate, and means on said plate engaged by the projection on said cover to prevent elevation of said plate when said cover is closed.

6. In a railway axle journal, a box having an open end and a recess in its bottom, an oil container positioned beneath the axle within said box and removable through said open end, said container having a bottom and upstanding sides to retain a body of liquid therein, means in said container for conveying oil to the journal surface,

a locking plate positioned between the bottom of said container and the bottom of the box and contiguous to both, an upwardly extending projection on said plate engaging said container, and a downwardly extending projection on said plate engaging the recess in the bottom of the box, said projections preventing endwise removal of said container and said plate without initial elevation of said plate.

7. In a railway axle journal, a box having an open end, a hinged cover for said open end, an oil container rigidly mounted beneath the axle Within said box and removable through said open end, said container having a bottom and upstanding sides to retain a body of liquid therein, means in said container for conveying oil to the .journal surface, a removable locking member having engagement with a\portion of the box and with said container to prevent removal of said container, and said cover having engagement with said locking member to prevent movement thereof when said cover is closed.

GEORIGE MCCORMICK. 

